Hang Gliding

Where do I start if I want to learn to hang glide?
The first thing you should do is get in touch with a hang gliding flight school. Make a phone call and ask to be given a brochure or information booklet with prices. Ask if the instructor is certified by the United States Hang Gliding Association to teach. If the instructor is not, don't purchase lessons or equipment.

After reading your information booklet, call the school back and ask them if you can stop by and take a tour. If you can, arrange for a time that will allow you to go out to the training area while the students are there. Talk with the students and ask them what they think of the program. Don't be surprised if there are not any students currently training. Smaller schools may only train a few students a year especially if they are located in areas away from the large cities. Some schools only work weekends.

The best way to find out if you enjoy hang gliding is to take a tandem flight. This is a flight where the instructor rides along with you and shows you the basic information of how a hang glider works. Most schools have an introductory tandem flight for a nominal fee. If you think you might want to continue, ask about their arrangements for training, times, days, locations, etc... Remember to ask, ask, and ask questions. Most schools will gladly answer any and all questions.

Here are some basic questions you should ask before purchasing a training package: What if I miss a class, do I get to take the class later at no additional charge? What is your refund policy? Can I spread my classes over the period of several months? What are the time of the classes? Are the instructors certified by the USHGA? How many years has the school been in operation? How many accidents and what type of accidents have their been during training during the past year? How many years of experience does the instructors have? What should I wear to class? Can my friends come and watch?

How will I learn to hang glide?
The method of your education will depend upon your choice of school and what options they have available to you. There are two methods that are most commonly taught.

The first method is training from small hills. This method is the most popular way of learning to fly and often the least expensive method. The student will start from a small hill with an instructor by their side. Basic control and safety techniques are discussed prior to your first launches and you will be asked to demonstrate these techniques while in flight. The first few flights will concentrate on running with the glider. The student will then progress to higher elevations on the training hill and practice running down the hill with the glider. Eventually, after the student has started up high enough, the glider will become airborne for a few feet off the ground. Once the student is comfortable with being airborne, the student will progress to the top of the hill. All of the first flights will show the student how to fly in a straight path and keep the wings level. After straight and level flight is consistently demonstrated, the instructor will inform the student on how to make turns. Generally speaking, once the training hill is mastered, the student is then allowed to fly off a mountain site ranging in elevation from a couple of hundred feet to a couple of thousand of feet depending upon your school facilities.

The next method of learning to hang glide and often thought of as the most educational is tandem training. Tandem training is a method that is used by several schools that allows the student and the instructor to fly in the same glider. Tandem education tends to be a bit more expensive than the training hill method. The instructor will demonstrate basic control and safety techniques and then allow you to imitate the techniques. After several flights you will be allowed to solo by yourself.

The best education is a often a combination of training hill flights and tandem flights although there are numerous successful pilots who have trained only with tandem flight or training hill flights alone. Never, ever teach yourself or learn from your buddy unless he is certified by the United States Hang Gliding Association as an instructor. There is a difference between being a certified instructor and a certified pilot.

What is a tandem flight?
A tandem flight is a flight that you take with an instructor. Most schools offer tandems flights. Tandems flights are started when both your and the instructor are safely harnessed into the glider. From there you and the instructor are towed up with an ultralight or small plane to a couple of thousand feet where the instructor will release the glider from the ultralight or towing method.

Once free from the tow, the instructor will demonstrate the basic flight handling capabilities of the glider. He will then allow you to steer the glider. The instructor will have a firm grip on the glider at all times while you take the controls. It is very safe procedure. While you are flying you will gently be losing elevation.

When you are at a certain elevation, the instructor will take the controls back from you and land the glider where you first started. Tandem flights are the best way for you to get a feel for hang gliding and are highly recommended by most schools.

How long do tandem flights last?
Depending upon how high you are towed, they generally last between 10 and 30 minutes.

How are hang gliders steered?
Hang gliders are controlled by weight shift. The pilot is suspended from a strap beneath the glider. When the pilot shifts his weight to the right, the glider turns to the right. When the pilot shifts his weight to the left, the glider turns to the left. The pilot can stop the turn by shifting his weight to the opposite side. The speed of the glider is also controlled in a similar manner except that the pilot's weight is shifted forward and backwards. When the pilot shifts his weight forward, the weight of the glider will cause the front nose of the glider to dive which causes an increase in speed. When the pilot pushes his weight to the back of the glider, the nose of the glider will rise and cause a lose of flying speed.

How high/far can a hang glider go?
This depends upon three factors, weather, pilot's ability, and glider type. If you are just starting the height and distance will not be very high or far. The world record is over 430 miles for distance. The maximum height a hang glider can legally fly is 18,000 feet although there are several documented cases of gliders flying much higher illegally.

Is hang gliding safe?
Yes, the sport of hang gliding has come a long way since it became popular back in the seventies in the states. Structurally, gliders have become much stronger and capable of withstanding G-Forces greater than commercial airliners. In the United States, hang gliders are certified by the Hang Glider Manufacturer Association before they are distributed to the public. Getting a education from a certified school is primary in flying safely. Most schools have instructors that has taught hundreds of pilots before you and are well aware of common problems that you may encounter. Do not attempt to train yourself, you will most likely cause injury to yourself or others. In general, the sport of hang gliding is very safe. If you go beyond the limits of your hang glider or the limits of your education you may find out just the opposite.

How long do flights last?
Typically flights will last anywhere from 5 minutes to all day long. This will vary with pilots skill, glider type, and weather conditions. Flying a glider for several hours can often cause body fatigue and cramps for some. Most pilots fly 1 to 3 hours if the conditions are right. Flying at night is prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration for good reasons.

How do gliders gain altitude?
All of us are familiar with wind that blow across the surface of the earth. Besides blowing across the surface, it also blow vertically. These vertical winds are called thermals and produced by the uneven heating of the earth. When areas of the earth heat faster than other areas, the hot air gathers and rises. Gliders can circle in these rising pockets of air and gain altitude.

Another way to gain altitude in a glider is to follow closely along the top of a ridge line. When air is blowing towards the ridge, the air is forced upwards creating areas of lift known as lift bands. Sometimes it is possible to follow the ridge and travel many miles by staying in the lift band.

A glider can also gain altitude by being towed up by an ultralight like plane. Pilots have reached upwards to 18,000 feet by being towed.

There are several other way to get altitude not discussed in detail here such as using a winch, boat, an automobile, or in extreme cases, horses.

How does a hang glider fly?
The concept of the hang glider wing is similar to that of an airplane. The leading edge of the glider wing is curved or it becomes curved during flight. When the glider is in motion the airflow comes in contact with the leading edge of the wing and it travels in two directions, above the wing and below the wing.

The air traveling over the top of the wing takes a longer amount of time to pass by the glider than the air traveling beneath the wing. The different speeds of the air above and below creates areas of different pressure on the glider wing. With more air under the wing there is more pressure under the wing which causes the glider to fly.

What range of temperatures will it be when I fly?
You can expect 4 degrees (F) drop for every 1000 feet of altitude gain. Pilots that are expecting to rise about 10,000 feet during the summer will often wear an additional layer of clothing to protect them.

If the temperature is 70 degrees (F) at the surface and the pilot flies to 10,000 feet there will be approximately a 40 degree (F) temperature drop to 30 degrees (F). If you factor in a wind chill factor from your speed flying through the air you can expect frigid flying conditions.

Do I need to be a top athlete to learn to fly a hang glider?
Good general health is all that is required and the ability to run. The most demanding part of hang gliding is learning how to fly it on the training hill. The weight of the gliders vary from 50 to 80 pounds. You will be required to balance the gliders on your shoulders and then run with it. After the first few steps the gliders starts to fly and the weight is lifted from your shoulders. If you keep running the glider will eventually lift you off of the ground. Several but not all schools will ask you to carry your glider back up the hill after you have flown it down, this is the toughest part. After five or six trips up and down the hill, the average person tends to get a little fatigued. Because of this, most schools consider five or six flights the average number of flights per lesson. Aerowtowing is usually the less demanding way for those who are not in average health conditions.

Are there any age restrictions to learn to fly a hang glider? Virtually any age of pilot can learn to fly a hang glider as long as they are mature enough to make quick decision, similar to the ability to drive a car down a busy street or play video games. Pilots as young as 13 and as old as 70 have flow gliders without any problems. Those at the extreme ends of the age range will receive an extensive evaluation from their instructor during their training to make sure they have the mental capabilities to handle conditions that are encountered during flight. No one will be allowed to solo from the mountain or tow aloft unless their instructor fells they can do it properly with incurring injury to themselves or others.

Are there any weight/height limitation to learn to fly a hang glider?
Most gliders are rated for pilots weighing between 90 and 250 pounds. Those that weight more than the maximum weight may want to consider flying a tandem glider after their training.

Most equipment is designed for pilots 5' to 6'-6'. Those above or below this range may want to consider contacting the equipment manufacturer and have them design the equipment to meet their needs.

How much does it cost to learn to hang glide?
Prices vary widely according to the location of the school as well as the type of training. Most school have several different packages in different prices ranges that you allow you to get as much training as you wish.

If you are wanting to fly solo, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1500 depending on the type of course you take. Tandem flying tends to add cost to training while learning to fly on the training hills are the least expensive.

If possible, the student should purchase a combination of both tandem flight and training hills to obtain the best training at the best value.

Do I have to buy my equipment when I start training?
No, all schools will provide you with equipment during your training. The cost is included with your tuition. You should not buy your equipment until you are complete with your training. Some schools will allow you to rent the same or similar equipment after you have completed your training.

How much does equipment cost to hang glide if I wish to own my equipment?
Equipment prices will vary with type of glider and accessories. Beginner level gliders will cost between $2000 and $4000 for a new glider. You can purchase a used glider for less than half the price but do not do so unless it is recommended by your instructor. Gliders come with different ratings from the novice to the advance.

Never purchase a glider before you begin training. If the glider you purchase is above your skill level, your instructor will not allow you to train on it or fly it.

Helmet prices range from $80 to $400. Never buy a used helmet as they might have of been dropped before. Dropping a helmet may damage the protective ability of the helmet.

During your first mountain or aerotow flights, the instructor may or may not require a reserve parachutes. The cost of chutes range from $400 to $700 and vary with the amount of weight they will carry. Always buy the largest available reserve that has the slowest descent rate. You will be thankful if you ever have to use it. Reserve chutes with high descent rates will deliver a pilot safely to the ground but there is the possibility of spraining an ankle or breaking a bone upon impact if you rate is to fast.

Harness are available from $200 to $1500 and vary in price because of the ability to slip through the air with less resistance. Having a harness that is streamline will help the pilot go farther more quickly. The higher price harnesses are mostly used by competition pilots and those who have years of experience. For your first harness, you should probably try to stay with the lower to mid price range. Buying a used harness is OK as long as that it has been inspected by your instructor or flight school.

In all you can expect to pay anywhere between $2500 and $6500 for starting equipment. Most schools will recommend a price range from $3500 to $4500 for your first equipment. This price range can be further reduced if you tell the instructor you want a used glider, harness, and reserve. The ability to get used equipment will depend upon the stock of your school. Most schools are always buying back gliders from students as they progress in their skill level and should have a choice of beginning equipment. If they do not have any used equipment, you may have to buy new.

Once you have gotten the hang of hang gliding, you will want to purchase a vario/gps system. These systems are used to guage altitude and define your position on the earth. They assist the pilot in navigation. Expect to pay $100 for a small vario and any where from $300 to $1100 for a vario/gps system. Used equipment can often be purchased for much less.

How do I design a hang glider?
Do not attempt to design and build a hang glider. Although they are simple enough in appearance, they are complex aerodynamic machines that have taken over 30 years for current professional glider manufacturers to master. Although the appeal of designing and building your own hang glider may be tempting, designing and building your own hang glider will most certainly result in your injury or death. If you must design a hang glider, make sure it is made out of paper and less than 12" in length.

What's next?
Make a few phone calls to your choice of flight schools and get flying!